Rafa Benitez fights for Inter Milan job as he insists club haven't had it so good for 20 years!

Here to stay: Benitez gestures to onlookers after arriving back in Milan from Abu Dhabi

Rafa Benitez has come out fighting for his job and claims he has made Inter Milan more entertaining than under Jose Mourinho's uber-successful regime.

The Spaniard, speaking from Liverpool where he is spending the Christmas holidays, dismissed reports that he had been sacked after publicly challenging club president Massimo Moratti to back him in the transfer market.

Sources told Sportsmail that Benitez would be axed this week, while Milan-based Gazzetta dello Sport echoed that the decision had already been taken, with thoughts turning to who would take over the hot seat.

However, Benitez told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: 'I have not been sacked. I am quite surprised by some of the headlines I read in the papers. In fact, many people called me to ask whether I was sacked, but it is not true.'

The former Liverpool boss has even been brave enough to repeat his call for new signings when the transfer window opens in January, though Moratti refused to respond to calls for 'three or four' additions at the weekend.

Expect fireworks: Inter players celebrate winning the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi

'My plan was to add a few more players useful for us, younger players for the future and in a couple of years reduce the mountain of salaries we pay currently,' explained Benitez. 'People told me that this was the best football they had seen Inter play for 20 years.

'We are like the Barcelona of Italy. But to continue to win and do well, you need to make important purchases.

'The injuries have affected us, and we don't want this to happen again. As the market will start soon, this was the right time to speak openly about buying.'

Moratti responded with a 'no comment' when leaving Abu Dhabi, where Inter won the Club World Cup on Saturday and followed it up with a statement to that effect on the Inter website today.

Champions of the world: Inter fans celebrate in Milan's Duomo square after their team's success

Former Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is the favourite for his job after leading Zenit St Petersburg to the Russian Premier League title and six wins out of six in their Europa League group. England boss Fabio Capello is also a candidate Moratti has tried to snare before.

Benitez said: 'I don't want to put the president under pressure, but I had spoken to him in the past about my project.Moratti, with whom I have a correct and respectful relationship, liked it.

'The president has to take a decision regarding the line we want to follow. While I am here (at Inter) I will work in the best possible way in order for the team to continue to win.'

Jose Mourinho won the European Cup along with an Italian League and Cup double, while Benitez's Inter are languishing seventh in Serie A and finished second in their Champions League group behind Tottenham.

However, the club have suffered an injury crisis and Benitez has blamed the poor physical shape of his players.